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Most jobs to teach English abroad require applicants to have a TEFL certification. This means that before you receive your first paycheck, you’ll have to invest a big chunk of your money on a TEFL course. TEFL certification costs can vary widely due to factors like program length, location, and add-ons to the certification itself.…

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What is interactive learning, really? It is a procedure that imparts education in the traditional classroom. In between traditional lectures with students who listen to their instructors and take notes and individual e-learning from the commodity of one’s home, interactive learning combines it all, right there in the spot where education happens – classrooms. Basically,…

Taiwan, an island nation with a population of 23 million, may be easy to miss on a map, but its small size belies a wealth of culture, food, natural beauty, and ESL students! There’s a reason expats flock here to teach English in Taiwan and soak up all the island has to offer. Teaching English…

China is by far the largest job market for ESL teachers, but the vast number of opportunities makes it hard to decide on a job. In this post, we’ll introduce you to the most convenient route to find English teaching jobs in China which REALLY suit your preferences, without all the hassle. You’ll learn about…

Do you want to teach English online but don’t know where to start? With so many options for online teaching careers available, it can be daunting to figure out what option is best for you. This guide will go into detail about the three routes for teaching ESL online: Working for teaching companies Offering classes…

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The Fantastic Opportunities for Teaching English Abroad

The world of teaching abroad is exhaustive: you can get almost any kind of teaching work in any country you can imagine. While the range of possibilities opens the door wide open for anyone interested in teaching abroad, it can also be overwhelming to face the sheer number of TEFL job options you have.

Requirements of TEFL Jobs

Being a foreign ESL teacher is less prohibitive than many think. The only requirements are a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, a passport from a native English-speaking country, a clean criminal background check, and mostly a TEFL certificate. Having experience is beneficial, but often not required. Cool, isn’t it?

Career Options for TEFL Teachers

One of the great things of teaching ESL abroad is that it can look like almost whatever you want it to!

Do you envision yourself in front of a classroom of elementary schoolers in a rural village somewhere? Tutoring a few children in the middle of a bustling city? Speaking business English one-on-one with an adult in their home?

Whatever it is you think you’d be most suited to doing, you can find a job and a location that will accommodate you.

Kinds of Institutions Where You Can Teach

Some people prefer positions in public primary schools, where there tend to be more amenities (school-provided housing, a large community of teachers), but where class sizes are larger and potentially more stressful.

Others prefer TEFL jobs in training centers, where class sizes are smaller and lessons tend to be more rigorous.

If you work in a training center, you’ll probably work in the afternoon and evening and have to work at least one weekend day. Some prefer this kind of schedule, as it gives them mornings free and allows them to explore the city on their time off during weekdays when everyone else is at work and the streets are emptier.

Others, however, prefer the more traditional schedule afforded by the public and private schools.

Age Range of TEFL Students

Aside from different schedules and class sizes, you can teach any age of students, from toddlers to adults. If you’re more comfortable singing, playing, and being silly, you could look into work at a kindergarten or training center for young children, while if you’re more at home lecturing and discussing, you might prefer a job teaching business English to adults or helping high schoolers prepare for standardised tests.

Regional Job Markets

Would you prefer to live in a tropical climate or a wintry paradise? A hyper-modern metropolis or a peaceful village?

Whether you want to be in Asia or Latin America, you can find TEFL jobs the world over. China, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, and even native English speaking countries all have opportunities to teach English as a foreign language.

In first-world countries like Japan, South Korea, and parts of the Middle East and Europe, you’ll find well-established, competitive programs. Your move will likely be smooth, and you won’t have to worry as much about logistics as you might in some other countries.

Meanwhile, if you take a job in Southeast Asia or parts of Latin America, you’ll find that it’s easier to get a job on short notice and that things will generally be cheaper and more laidback.

The Salaries and Cost of Living When You Teach English Abroad

Money is, of course, a big factor to take into consideration when considering where in the world you want to live.

In China, Korea, and most of Southeast Asia, the median TEFL job rate hovers around $1,000-2,000 per month, while in Japan you can make as much as $2,000-5,000 a month. However, working in Japan is much more competitive than in some other countries, and the cost of living there is much higher than in, say, Vietnam.

If you opt to teach in Latin America, you’ll find that salaries are largely a little lower than in Asia. According to International TEFL Academy, most countries’ median salaries fall between $600 and $1,000 per month, although it’s higher in countries like Brazil and Chile.

You can make a lot of money teaching in the Middle East, with median salaries as high as $3,000-5,000 in countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. However, some people complain about the quality of life in certain Middle Eastern countries, with restrictions on drinking and expectations for female modesty that don’t exist in, say Latin America.

While the country you’re in, of course, will affect what kind of salary you can expect to make from ESL jobs, other aspects of your background will also affect your pay.

If you have a master’s degree, teaching certificate, or teaching background in your native country, you’ll be eligible for higher paying jobs. Likewise, if you have high standardized-test scores you’ll be better positioned to find work in a high-paying job helping students prepare for standardized tests.

Side Hustles and Online Teaching Options Abound

Depending on where you live, your salary as an ESL teacher might not be enough to cover your living expenses, afford some extras and save money all at the same time.

One great way to make money from home or while traveling is by teaching online.

Many online English teaching platforms, such as VIPKID, don’t even require a TEFL certificate, although you can make more money teaching on the platform if you have one. VIPKID teachers make $14-22 an hour, and full-time teachers report making as much as $3,000 a month on the platform.

And best of all, because it’s all online you can do it anywhere with a good Internet connection!

A lot of teachers pad their wallets with other side jobs, for example, they work for CustomWritings, an online custom essay writing service for ESL students. Writing an own blog, earning money from ads or affiliate marketing is a good option, too.

As an ESL teacher, you will be needing to transfer money abroad on a regular basis, and that is costly and often time-consuming. There are simpler solutions for ESL teachers that you could be using – view the currency transfer guide to learn more.

Start Teaching English Abroad Today!

You can find TEFL jobs the world over, in every location, village, city, school, and office building. Also, the barrier to teaching English abroad is lower than you think. So take a TEFL course, talk to a recruiter and start your journey!

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